Heresy

[cmatthes]

Looks like Blue Trans to me.

The seller is probably just looking at the current Hamer website and noting the only Blue shade they offer right now as a stock finish is "Indigo".

There really isn't a whole lot of difference between Blue Trans and Indigo. Indigo is slightly darker and presents a more purple cast in some light, but all colors/finishes can vary somewhat from right off the line to 10-20 years later. Some finishes fade, some turn colors a bit and the same (trans) finish will look markedly different over different types of wood - even on the same guitar.

[Russ]

Noted, and thanks...

[mirrorimij]

Some of the mid 90's Hamer blue trans guitars I've seen look like they are turning green with age.

[crunchee]

Some of the mid 90's Hamer blue trans guitars I've seen look like they are turning green with age.

I got rid of a Rick 4003 bass in Blueburst for basically the same reason. Good bass, but I had three 4003s at the time. It was starting to look a bit green in the middle, and it was only a couple of years old.

I agree about the BlueBook and VG price guides--they are way off kilter, especially re Hamers. This site and eBay (averaged over time, not necessarily per each auction) are much better and accurate predictors. I maintain that Hamers past and present smoke 'off the rack' Gibsons, but just try to convince those who know nothing but only Gibsons...

[cmatthes]

You sold a BlueBurst 4003 and didn't let me know?!

Man...

[crunchee]

You sold a BlueBurst 4003 and didn't let me know?!

Man...

Sorry, that was early last year (2007). My bad!

[Uncle Thor's Hamer]

Right now really is a buyer's market. Except guns which are sold out due to fears of losing Constitutional freedoms under the new regime.

Anyhow, though new to the Hamer world, I have been watching acoustic prices for the past couple of years. Right now is a fantastic time to be buying high end used acoustics. Hell, even new sometimes. A NIB Adamas 2080 went for $1k a few weeks ago. Normally the best internet pricing is $2kish right now.

My crystal ball says that prices will not be this affordable anytime in the near future. The government is going to have to print money like we've never seen, due to all the trillions they will spend on bailouts, new socialist programs, and the huge unfunded Social Security obligations just coming due. Which means that inflation is going to be as bad or worse than we saw during the Jimmy Carter years. Your money will be worth a lot less than it is now.

So right now is the time to buy if you have the cash. This isn't to say that used high end guitars are a good investment or inflation hedge, but they are a great value.

[crunchee]

My crystal ball says that prices will not be this affordable anytime in the near future. The government is going to have to print money like we've never seen, due to all the trillions they will spend on bailouts, new socialist programs, and the huge unfunded Social Security obligations just coming due. Which means that inflation is going to be as bad or worse than we saw during the Jimmy Carter years. Your money will be worth a lot less than it is now.

So right now is the time to buy if you have the cash. This isn't to say that used high end guitars are a good investment or inflation hedge, but they are a great value.

That's possibly true. But it seems that 'the nattering nabobs of negatism' (to quote Spiro T.) seem to keep raising the ugly topic of DEFLATION lately, rather than inflation, as in that spending is going down the toilet, and NO one wants to spend now because money is going to get harder to get ahold of later on--whether it be because of jobs, credit, or whatever. Not only is money NOT cheap right now, it's likely to NOT get any cheaper, due to the credit crunch, and regardless of the interest rate. What good is a low interest rate if you CAN'T BORROW money? What good is a low interest rate if you DON'T get the same rate on your Credit Card? Later on, inflation could definitely get to be a problem, but I don't think that tight money is gonna end soon, we've got a while to wait and see. I'll bet that you'll see prices on many things go down before they go back up again, and I'm not talking about 'sale' items. Those people that don't sell cheap and close a deal in the next year or two, aren't, because they're not selling, period. That also goes for guitars.

[The Shark]

Until the Blue Book folks will buy your Hamer guitar, what good is their assessment of value? Also, deflation and inflation are least likely to alter prices in markets where consumer loyalty is high. The top-end Hamers will fluctuate less than the production models that are not exemplary or unique. Also, the owners of the high dollar Hamers out there are less likely to bail at the bottom of a market correction. With instruments, the sheer number for sale dictates price. Four-digit Standards aren't likely to show up in large numbers no matter what happens. My guess is that the Hamer market will be flooded with like-kind guitars that are not considered vintage or collectible (imports for sure). Check eBay, if you don't believe me.

[SteveB]

ebay is the new blue book. If you take a guitar into a store for trade, they look it up on ebay, not the blue book. I wish ebay would keep completed auctions around longer.

[Sentinel]

Is it just that my little amp sucks so I can't tell the difference? Hell, any Hamer through my Roland MicroCube already sounds good enough to get me choked up...if a bigger amp made 'em sound any better, I'd probably short out the guitar with uncontrollable tears of joy.

Thoughts?

Playing a Hamer through a MicroCube is like playing a Hamer through a transistor radio IMO.

You've GOT to try a "decent" amp to tell the difference.

[Nathan of Brainfertilizer Fame]

Is it just that my little amp sucks so I can't tell the difference? Hell, any Hamer through my Roland MicroCube already sounds good enough to get me choked up...if a bigger amp made 'em sound any better, I'd probably short out the guitar with uncontrollable tears of joy.

Thoughts?

Playing a Hamer through a MicroCube is like playing a Hamer through a transistor radio IMO.

You've GOT to try a "decent" amp to tell the difference.

I'm sure you're right that you have to have a decent amp to tell the difference.

But have you tried a MicroCube? They really do put out great tone/sound. It sounds better than my Peavey Audition 110 by a long shot, better than other practice amp I've ever tried. It has decent emulators, but I rarely bother to use the on-board effects.

Still, it really does great for portable, excellent sound.

[Jimbilly]

MicroCubes are fun, -my kids love mine with a microphone and some delay. Yeah, it probably does beat most SS Peaveys, but to be fair, if you compare a MicroCube to most any upper end amp the MC is going to fall far short.

[Jorge]

My crystal ball says that prices will not be this affordable anytime in the near future.

Mine says they will be more affordable, not less.

The world has changed, and long, difficult times are ahead of us. This is no ordinary recession. We have been living assuming that is is normal to have several guitars, in all colors, and shapes, and sounds, for all our "guitar needs".

That is not true. We actually need very, very few guitars. Having more is a luxury, and we all like luxuries, but we will probably not be able to afford those in the years to come. We would buy if we thought we could flip them later in a rising market, kind of like...houses. But you know how that story ended.

The sharp rise in the value of the dollar has erased the buying power of millions of prospective buyers from other countries, that find US guitars relatively more expensive now. Since some of them will also find themselves without a job, I do not see them driving the "cool guitar market" up anytime soon. The dollar cannot fall unless the market expects a dramatic decrease in consumer spending for the US in the years to come. Since consumer spending is 70% of GDP in the US, that does not bode well for "guitar spending".

Add that, today, you can find fantastic (really, fantastic!) guitars made in Mexico, China and others, for a lot less money. We did not have that in our previous recessions. If you have tried a Fender Classic Player Strat, that sometimes go for $500m or less on Ebay, you will know what I mean.

I do believe we will see Hamer FM specials, or similar guitars, for $350 again.

For used guitar prices, look for actual "finished" auctions on Ebay. There are planty of guitars offered, or reserved, at the prices that "used to be", or close to them. But they do not -and I believe will not- sell.

And yes, the Blue Book sucks.